A Chantilly man has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in the 2024 shooting death of a man at a Reston Gold’s Gym.
Steve Taehee Ha, 45, entered his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in Fairfax County Circuit Court last Friday (July 17), according to court documents.
After Ha, who was previously found legally insane, waived his right to a jury trial, Circuit Court Judge Michael F. Devine entered his order and remanded Ha to the custody of the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
According to court records, Ha will be evaluated by a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist as to whether he must be committed to an in-patient facility or released with conditions. After receiving their report, Devine will rule on the matter on Sept. 17.
According to prior accounts by the Fairfax County Police Department, Ha repeatedly shot the victim, 31-year-old Hyungjoon Choi, at Gold’s Gym in the Point at Rise apartments (formerly known as VY Reston Heights) on Aug. 21, 2024.
Choi suffered trauma to the upper body and was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries.
When the shooting occurred, Choi, the father of an infant son at the time he was killed, was working out during his lunch break to avoid taking time away from his family, his widow told NBC4. The two men did not know each other.
Ha’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
Ha was indicted on the murder charge by a grand jury in February 2024. If found guilty of Choi’s murder, he could’ve faced life in prison.
In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Ha was also found not guilty by reason of insanity for the use of a firearm during a felony.
